VAdata is an electronic web-based data collection system for Virginia’s Sexual and Domestic Violence Service Agencies. One of its unique factors is that VAdata collects information on both sexual and domestic violence, combining information in one system from Domestic Violence Programs and Sexual Assault Crisis Centers.
The system provides a summary of data on the adults and children served by these agencies, including a description of the violence experienced, the perpetrators of that violence, the impact of the violence and strategies used to cope with its effects, and the services received.
Despite the fact that VAdata is a statewide system, all data in the VAdata belongs to the local Sexual and Domestic Violence Service Agencies providing the information. To reduce the risk of violating personal privacy rights and to maintain the confidentiality of persons seeking services, VAdata does not collect personally identifying information.
Purpose:
VAdata has been designed to serve a dual purpose: 1) an aggregate data collection and reporting system that works at a state and local level; and 2) a case management and advocacy tool for local Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Agencies.
Value to Sexual and Domestic Violence Service Agencies
· Designed in collaboration with advocates
· Generates reports for multiple funding sources
· Offers immediate access community and statewide level report data
· Offers case management capabilities
· Reduces documentation and record keeping
· Promotes consistency with internal and statewide documentation and reporting
· Compliant with VAWA confidentiality regulations
· Includes outcome data generated from surveys completed by service recipients
Value to Communities and/or States
· Provides community and statewide level data
· Promotes consistency in community and/or statewide data collection and reporting
· Generates local and statewide reports for diverse purposes
· Includes data collected directly from victims on the impact and value of services provided
· Adaptable to other states and localities
· Established and tested system designed specifically for sexual and domestic violence service agencies
VAdata Data Tools used by Local Sexual and Domestic Violence Agencies
· Hotline Records
· Advocacy Records
· Agency Specific and Statewide Statistic Reports
History:
In early 1996, Virginians Against Domestic Violence (VADV), Virginians Aligned Against Sexual Assault (VAASA), the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) met to discuss the issue of data collection among domestic violence programs and sexual assault centers. These four agencies collectively agreed that their data collection systems provided only the barest minimum of information about numbers of victims and services provided and had a number of problems which limited the ability of this data to provide truly useful information about violence against women in Virginia.
The four agencies agreed to apply for V-STOP funding to initiate an integrated statewide data collection system for domestic violence programs and sexual assault centers. They agreed that VADV would be the lead agency for the project, would apply for the grant, and would provide staff support. All four agencies agreed to enter into cooperative agreements for the development of the project, called VAdata. The Department of Criminal Justice Services awarded funding, and the VAdata project began in April 1996.
Domestic Violence Programs and Sexual Assault Centers across Virginia participated in the development and piloting of each phase of VAdata, and in April 1999 agencies across the state began using the system on a pilot basis. By October of 1999, VAdata was the official data collection tool used by the majority of domestic violence programs and sexual assault centers.
A multidisciplinary Advisory Committee guides the coalitions on issues related to the future of VAdata and is responsible for the development and publication of statewide reports. The first statewide report highlighting some of the important findings of the first six months of data was published in October, 2000.
In 2005, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (formerly VADV and VAASA) began a comprehensive evaluation of VAdata, including a five-year data review and aggregate report. Through the leadership of the Advisory Committee, VSDVAA reviewed all data collection tools and data reports and conducted focus groups with local Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Agencies to discuss the effectiveness of VAdata and revisions needed to enhance the system.
Over the next two years, the VAdata Advisory Committee met to review and discuss information gathered from Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Agencies during the focus groups and made recommendations on how to proceed, including prioritizing revisions. The staff worked to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Committee which resulted in development of a completely new set of data collection tools that more effectively capture the experiences of both sexual and domestic violence. In addition to the new data collection tools, the staff worked to re-design the system so that it worked as a case management system and not just a statistical database. You can keep the links to forms and to the VAdata site. The funding paragraph should be updated to delete VADV and VAASA and just say Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
